THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505120215
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
When the Southeastern District girls soccer tournament kicks off at Indian River and Oscar Smith high schools Tuesday, defending champion Great Bridge will be the overwhelming favorite.
The Wildcats, who have clinched the top seed in the tournament and will face the fourth seed at Indian River, are no strangers to being the top team. Great Bridge went undefeated in the district last year and repeated that feat this season with a 10-0 win over Deep Creek for the school's third consecutive district title.
While second-team All-State striker Lynn Wheaton, who scored five goals against Nansemond-Suffolk and has 21 on the season, is the key to the Wildcats offense (the next leading scorer is Jenny Hilborn with six goals), Great Bridge's defense is a total team effort.
Leading the way is the tandem of senior sweeper Sara Wetherford and freshman defender Meaghan Salo. Seniors Stephanie Yoder and Angie Munari also start, and sophomore keeper Anna Oliver is solid in net.
The defense has not given up a goal in district play.
``It's pressure, terrible pressure,'' Wetherford said of the streak. ``We've worked so hard to keep from being scored on. We don't really like to talk about it, knock wood.''
The Wildcats have rebounded from losing interior midfielder Jessie Berdick to a knee injury early in the district season.
``Skill-wise, she was one of our top players,'' said coach Harvey Regan. ``We've made some adjustments, but we're real strong. We don't have a weak player on the team.''
At 6-0 in the district, Great Bridge's closest competition has come from Western Branch, who is 4-1.
``Western Branch has the best shot of coming in second, which is all they need to do if we win the tournament,'' said Regan. The top two teams advance to Eastern Region play. ``But Oscar Smith plays really well - they're very together as a team - and Indian River has a super goalie'' in junior Tiffany Swiney.
Oscar Smith (3-2 in the district) is paced by a pair of freshmen - center halfback Katie Kramer (19 goals) and goalkeeper Jamie Burke (eight wins, six shutouts). The keys for Western Branch are keeper Katie MacPhail (12 shutouts) and offensive threat Ciera Lascano.
``Western Branch beat us 4-0, and they're really strong,'' said Oscar Smith coach Andy Overton. ``We feel like we can play with them, but we'll have to have an exceptional game.''
The second and third seeds play their semifinal Tuesday at Oscar Smith, which also hosts the district final at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. by CNB